Cigarette dispenser and lighter



June 6, 1933. w. F. LANDRUM CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER INVENTOR, )If/fiam I bud/2077.

: ATTORNEYS.

Filed Nov. 16, 1931 Patented June 6, 1933 WILLIAM. F. LANDRUM, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Application filed November is, 1 31. Serial No. 575,293.

This invention relates tomechanism for handling cigarettes or similar articles wherein is incorporated means for individually dispensing the cigarettes from a magazine of the same and also igniting means for lighting the cigarette immediately prior to its removal from the mechanism.

One of'the primary objects of this invention is to provide a cigarette dispenser and lighter having novel means for removin a cigarette from a; storage magazine an a unique structure for igniting one end thereof as a suction longitudinally through the cigarette is created at the other end thereof.

A yet further object of the instant invention is the contemplation of a device of the character mentioned, the parts thereof including means for automatically discontinuing the igniting action after the cigarette has been burned to a'predetermined length or for a predetermined period of time.

The invention has for its aim, the provision of many minor objects, all of which will appear during the course of the followingspecification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken-away front elevation of a dispenser and lighter embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same taken on line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view similar to the showing in Fig. 1, but with the parts of the device in another relation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed, sectional view through a part of the feeding mechanism, taken on line of Fig. 3.

Fi 5 is an enlarged, fra mentary, detaile view through the suction apparatus "T forming a part of the invention, and,

I Fig. dis a diagrammatical showing of a circuit which may be used with this device. In the accompanying drawing the pre ferred form of the invention has been illustrated and like reference characters utilized to indicate similar parts throughout the sev-- eral views. The dispenser and lighter consists essentially of a housin 8, within which is formed a magazine 10, rom which cigarettes 12 may be removed and dropped by gravity into the lower part of housing 8, from whence theymay be removed through open-. ing 14 formed in the front of housin 8. Suitable guide walls and receivers .16 and 18 respectively may be built into the device and a door 20 might also be provided for the purpose of filling magazine 10.

This cigarette dispenser and lighter is particularly adapted for use in an automobile, but manifestly may be installed wherever desired so long as there is made available means for creating a suction and means for supplying electrical energy for heating the igniting means. The first ste in the operation of the machine is the fee ing of a cigarette 12 from magazine 10 which is accomplished through the intermediacy of novel mechanism including a manually operable plunger 22 projecting from housing 8 and having its innermost end slidably mounted in bearing 2 f whereby said innermost end may be moved into a chamber 26 formed along one side of housing 8 by partition 28 for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. Plunger 22 is moved inwardly against the tension of retrieving spring 30 and when plunger 22 is released, this spring returns saidplunger 22 to the point of beginning. As plunger 22 is reciprocated rectilinearly, it operates a era-- dle 32 about pivots 34. A pair of inclined 30 faces 36 and'38 respectively are'formed on plunger 22, each of which engages a lug 40 and 42 respectively as the plunger is so moved. Cradle 32 is made up of two walls extending at substantially right angles to 35 each other and the aforementioned lu s 40 and 42 are each projected from di erent walls.

In Figs. 1 and 2 cradle 32 is holding a cigarette 12 and the device is in a set position. Plunger 22 is pushed inwardly and inclined face 38 travels beneath lug 42 to force or allow, as the case may be, cradle 32' to tip downwardly for the purpose of releasing the cigarette held therein. As faceand lug 38 and 42 respectively engage for the purpose just mentioned, inclined surface. and lug 36 and 40 will be disposed in the relation .1 as illustrated in Fig. 3 so that when spring 30 moves .plunger 22 back to the point of beginning, inclined face 36 will move against lug 40 and rock cradle 32 about pivotal points 34 to the set position, as shown in Fig. 2. It is obvious from the foregoing description that cradle 32 is positively moved from one position to another in a plane at right angles to the movement of plunger 22. An agitator 44- in the form of a plate is pivotally mounted upon transverse rod 46 with its free edge resting upon the wall of cradle 32 adjacent apron 48 so that upon movement of cradle 32 apron 48 will ride against and raise agitator 44 to prevent the dropping of more than one cigarette at a time and to insure sufficient jogging to prevent packing on the part of all cigarettes 12 within magazine 10. When a cigarette 12 has been dropped by gravity to a position within receivers 18, such action will have been accomplished by moving plunger '22 inwardly. This movement causes a depressing of spring arm 50 which is disposed along with the other parts of the igniting means within chamber 26-. The upper end of spring arm 50 is rigidly secured to one of the side walls of housing 8 through the intermediacy of binding screw or similar element 52, while the lower or free end of arm 50 supports the igniting element 54 which moves to and from a position within chamber 26 through opening 56 formed through partition 28. Fig. 3 illustrates the relative positionof igniting element 54 and cigarette 12 just before plunger 22 is released to allow the movement of element 54 against one end of cigarette 12. Heating element 58forming a part of igniting means 54 is heated to incandescence by the closing of the circuit through contact finger 60 which is insulated from the remaining part of the structure, but which is supplied with electrical energy through connection 62 leading from any suitable source of electricity such as a common storage battery. As cigarette 12 is dropped, contact is made as shown in Fig. 3 and upon release of plunger 22 igniting means 54 is moved against the end of the dispensed cigarette. Spring pressure is exerted against cigarette 12 by arm 50 which is suflicient to operate the suction apparatus disposed at the opposite end of cigarette 12. As cigarette 12 is being burned, its length is decreased and igniting means 54 moves away from contact finger 60. The difference in the length and resiliency between arm 50 and finger 60 causes an opening of the circuit after the cigarette has been burned away a slight amount. This opening is shown clearly in Fig. 1. Means for adj listing the action of arm 50 and finger 60 is provi ed in the form of set screws 64, each acting upon the respective associated member to the desired degree.

The suction apparatus, against which cigarette 12 is forced when igniting means 54 moves to the lighting position, may

include the conical plate 66, through which is formed apertures 68. A valve head 70, integral with stem 72, opens port 7 4 as conical plate 66 is moved against the action of coil spring 76.v This opening action allows suction pipe 78 to draw air longitudinally through cigarette 12 and thereby create a more rapid combustion of the filler at the opposite end where igniting means 54 is functioning. When pressure upon plate 66 is released by the burning away of the end of cigarette 12, spring 76 will close e suction apparatus by moving valve to he closed position, as illustrated.

The device is preferably constructed of sheet metal and by virtue of such construction, grounding to complete the electrical circuit is possible. Referring to Fig. 6, it is plain to see battery 80 supplies current to element 58 through wire 82 and finger 60 when finger 60 contacts point 84. From element 58 the circuit is completed through arm 50 and wire 86 which leads to ground 88, to which battery 80 is also connected.

The operation of this dispensing and lighting device has been made clear throughout the specification and while the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it is understood that many modifications might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what prising a storage magazine; igniting means;

feeding mechanism disposed to actuate said igniting means as it ismanipulated to remove a cigarette from said magazine; and a member, forming a part of the igniting means, for interrupting the igniting action upon the cigarette when the same has been burned to a predetermined length, said member being a spring arm rigidly secured at its one end, having an igniting element at the free end thereof and having a portion thereof intermediate its ends engageable by the said feeding mechanism.

2. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising a storage magazine; igniting means; feeding mechanism disposed to actuate said igniting means as it is manipulated to remove a cigarette from said magazine; and suction apparatus positioned to act upon the cigarette as ignition takes place, said suction apparatus having a valve therein arranged to be maintained in an open position by pressure exerted against said cigarette by the said igniting means.

3. In a cigarette dispenser and lighter, igniting means to engage one end of a cigarette o predetermined length; suction apparatus for the other end thereof; and devices forming a part of said igniting and suction means respectively to cause both of said means to act upon a cigarette of said length when the same is interposed therebetween to interrupt their action upon the ci av rette after the same has been shortened y being an its original length.

4. In a cigarette dispenser and lighter, igniting means to engage one endof the cigarette; a sfpring arm supporting said igniting means; eeding mechanism associated wit said spring arm to move-the same through a..

path of travel of predetermined length; a contact finger disposed to en age the i 'ting means through a parto? said pati of travel; and means associated with the spring arm and contact finger respectively to vary the engaging part 0 said path of travel.

5. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising a storage magazine; igniting means; eeding mechanism isposed to actuate said igniting means as it is manipulated to re move a cigarette from said magazine; a member, forming a part of the igniting means,

cigarette when the same has been burned to a predetermined length thereby; and means associated with said member of the igniting means to vary the effective time of sai igniting action.

6. In a cigarette dispenser and lighter, igniting means; suction apparatus positioned in op osed relation to said igniting means where y to receive a ci arette therebetween; and resilient means or maintain-.

ing igniting and drawin action upon said cigarette for a redetermi iied length of time, said means inc uding a pair of spring arms, one of said arms having parts engaging the cigarette as ignition takes place, the other of said arms engaging said first mentioned arm during said ignition time each of said arms having one end thereof fixed against movemnt, the other ends being in contacting rela-' tion during said i ition time.

In testimony w ereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM F. LANDRUM.

burned to a redetermined length substantially shorter t for'interrupting the igniting action upon the v 

